I was using it to describe a class '物理の授業' however I came across 物理学 which from all examples doesn't seem to be any different but '学' being attached makes me think it might be more appropriate when talking about academics.

Sorry about the spelling mistake in the title. I shouldn't post after going so long without sleep.

物理 forms a lot of compounds, mostly with the meaning "physical" (as opposed to virtual, say), rather than "physics". 物理学 means "physics" as the name of the field of study, so that's probably what you want. But expressions like 物理の授業 aren't exactly incorrect either, i don't think, as 物理 by itself *does* mean physics.

Obligatory alc.co.jp link

A related word is 物理的 which explicitly means "physical" as an adjective.

Thanks, that helps a lot.

[Zgarbas]

物理 is Physics (laws of Physics, general physics, etc.)
物理学 is Study of Physics (school-related).

Though I think 物理の授業 is still correct.

So, just to clear this up, one should say 専門は物理学です (and not 専門は物理です) and 物理学の学生, am I correct?

chillimuffin Wrote:So, just to clear this up, one should say 専門は物理学です (and not 専門は物理です) and 物理学の学生, am I correct?

I would... yes. Probably mostly because i'm an engineer and i use 物理 waaay too often to mean "physical", so using it to mean physics the subject just feels a little weird to me. I have no idea how a native speaker would feel. Google seems to indicate both phrasings are used.

[Zgarbas]

Google also indicates that all Physics departments in schools are labeled 物理学専門

chillimuffin Wrote:So, just to clear this up, one should say 専門は物理学です

Actually, quick question along a similar line... do you say 「専門は物理学です」 or 「専攻は物理学です」？ I've always said the latter but what's the difference between that and the former?

I think 専門 can be used more widely, for example to describe one's area of speciality, or even to describe a shop that specialises in a certain product.
専攻 is much more related to academic study and research.
So in the case of describing what you study at university either is ok. However, if you were a translator describing your field of speciality you would use 専門.

http://detail.chiebukuro.yahoo.co.jp/qa/...1455404654

mutley Wrote:I think 専門 can be used more widely, for example to describe one's area of speciality, or even to describe a shop that specialises in a certain product.
専攻 is much more related to academic study and research.
So in the case of describing what you study at university either is ok. However, if you were a translator describing your field of speciality you would use 専門.

http://detail.chiebukuro.yahoo.co.jp/qa/...1455404654

Ok, that kind of gels with the image in my head.

That post actually says that if you're asking a student, 「ご専門は？」is weird and you should use 「ご専攻は？」instead. Whereas in a business situation when you want to ask about their specialty, you should use 専門, as 専攻 is specifically enquiring as to their academic history, which might be inappropriate. So... what major you studied at which university isn't considered a good small talk topic in japan? Or just a weird thing to ask of a superior?

My Japanese colleagues (i.e. academics) say 専門 when they're telling someone from a different discipline (say a natural science) that they're working in 経済学. I've heard them say 専攻 when talking about a specialty or subfield like macro. Undergrad majors seem to always be 専攻。